Carlile Transportation Systems.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 October 2003
• Author: Williams, Morissa

2003 Top 49er Ranking: 25

Position Last Year: 18

2002 Revenue: $58 million

Number of Employees: 455

Carlile Transportation Systems, headquartered in Anchorage, enables Alaska to be a dynamic player in major segments of commerce. This multi-modal transportation and logistics company provides freight transportation service to and from the Lower 48, Canada and all points in Alaska.

How does it do this? The Anchorage terminal, one of many, operates almost nonstop. Dispatchers coordinate a fleet of more than 80 tractors and 850 pieces of trailing equipment. About 5 million pounds of freight are processed through the terminal each week.

The 95 percent Alaskan-owned company has more than 400 employees, and operates terminals in Anchorage; Fairbanks; Prudhoe Bay; Kenai; Seward; Federal Way, Wash.; and Houston.

President Harry McDonald and Executive Vice President John McDonald established Carlile in 1980. This company is all muscle, taking on immense responsibilities as a matter of course and accomplishing them quietly.

Carlile's customers are as varied as BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., the United States military and several isolated communities, all of which rely on the company's dedicated service. From bridge beams destined for Denali Park to huge cranes and modules moving to the North Slope, Carlile delivers goods efficiently...